Pipe-wrapping machine



Filled Aug. 21, 1929 INVENTOR. 7 6 M 7% A TTORNEYS.

Patented Se t. 30, 1930 V UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs mum JANBENQOI BAN FRANCISCO, CAIJJ'OBNIA, AS SIGNOR '10 GENERAL IAIN! CO3- POBATION, OI FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 01 NEVADA v run-wmrme momma Application fled August 81, 1928. Serial No. 887,358.

My present invention relates to a new,

simple and improved apparatus for use in connection with the wrapping and coating of pipes, and more (particularly to apparatus for supporting an turning the pipes durin the wrapping and/or coating operations.

e'object of my invention is to provide a simple, efiicient and operated device for use 1n connectionv wit the wrapping and coating of pipes, which is particularly well adapted to use in the field where relatively simple, light, and portable apparatus is desira le. V

In the laying of long pipe lines, and particularly those involving the use of relatively light pipe of large diametersuch as is customary inthe oil fields, it is desirable to provide a weather-proofing or coating upon the pipe for the purpose of protecting it against rust. This coating is in most cases applied to the pipe in the factory or at some centralized point and, where this is done,

the wrapping and/or coating is generally applied 1n an automatic manner b a suit-.

able machine. Such a machine is il ustrated and described in the patent to Wieland et 211., Number 1,572,258. It often happens, however, in making installations that individual lengths of pi s must 'e wrapped at the point of assem ly in the piping system and, 1n order to facilitate a wrapping or "coating of such a length of pipe in the field, I have provided a novel apparatus which has been found to be partlcularly suitable for this work. In this apparatus there is provided adjustably spaced rollers upon which the pipe may be supported and a suitable means for imparting a rotary motion to a number'of said rollers for the purpose of imparting .a rotary motion to the pipe. 7 One'of the novel features of this apparatus is in the provision of means whereby the driving means is ada ted to impart movement to the driving r0 lers when aspractical manuallly;

sembled in their different relative spacings.

For a better understanding to the accompanying drawing, wherein I have shown by way of illustration and not of limitation, a preferred embodiment of my invention.

7 In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the principal parts of my invention.

Flg. 2 is an end view of my improved apgaratu's showing the pipe Supporting and riving rollers adjusted to sup ort a pipe of relatively large diameter, ans

Fi 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the iving rollers and driving means adusted for the support of a pipe of relatively smaller diameter.

In Fig. 1, 1.0 designates what I shall term an end frame member. This end frame member 10 is supported upon the ends of a pair of rails 11 which may be ofany suitable material and, intact, may be ordinary lengths of lumber of suitable dimensions.

The end member 10 carries a pair of pipe sup orting rollers 12 u n which one end of t e pipe to be treate may repose. The

pipe in this illustration is designated by the numeral 13. At the outer end of the ipe 13 there is provided a suitable dolly 14 which carries rollers 15 similar in both diameter and spacing to the rollers 12. The dolly 14 is mounted upon suitable flanged wheels 16 and is adapted to roll along the rails 11 so that the apparatus may of different lengths. v

In order to impart a rotary movement to the pipe 13 which will facilitate an application of a wrapping or coating of paint thereupon, I have provided upon the ends be adapted to pipes of the rollers 12, sprockets 17 over which a chain 18 may pass. The chain 18, after passing over the sprockets 17,extends upwardly to a central point upon the frame .10 and passes over a third sprocket 19, which is adapted to be rotated by means of a crank diameter, I have provided, for the locating of one of the rollers 12 in a plurality of different positions. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the right hand roller 12 is adapted to be located at two distinct points in spaced relation to the left hand roller 12. The inner position of the right hand roller 12 is at the point where the shaft hole 21 occurs. In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the

rollers 12 are shown as in their widest ositions and, under these conditions, the 0 sin 18 is substantially in the form of a triangle and tight about the sprockets. If, now, the spacing of the rollers 12 is changed so as to bring them closer together as would be the case where a smaller pipe is to be wrapped or coated, it. will be seen that the chain 18 will of necessity become very loose upon the sprockets and, in fact, would no doubt ride up andfofi of the same. In order to provide for this contingency and to maintain the chain '18 tight upon the sprockets 17 and 19, I propose to mount an idlin sprocket 22 at a point between the sproc ets 17 so that, when the spacing of the rollers 12 is changed in such a manner, and the chain 18 is rendered loose, the chain may be passed over this idling sprocket and thus compensate for any slackness therein occasioned by a closer spacingof the rollers 12.

In the drawing the sprocket 22 is shown as mounted in a fixed position. This form of-mounting, it will be understood, is perfectly satisfactory where the rollers 12 are adjustable to only two positions, as under these conditions the location of the sprocket can bejvery easily determined. If, on the other hand, the spacing of the rollers 12 is .made adjustable to a 'number of different points, it is contemplated that the idling s rocket 22 will be mounted upon an adjusta le support so that it can be moved to an desired point in order to take up any slac in the driving chain 18.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing, the chain 18 is shown as passing under the sprocket 22 in a straight line between the sprockets l7 andin Fig. '3, where the rollers 12 are shown as arranged in their closely spaced positions, the

chain 18 is shown as-passed up and over the top of the sprocket 22. In the event that the sprocket 22 is made adjustable, as above suggested, it is contemplated that the chain 18 will remain constantly in contact therewith as shown in this figure of'the drawing, an that the ad'ustment of the sprocket 22 will then be m e by raising and lowering it with respect to the center line of the'sprockets 17 tion of a In the preceding descri tion and drawing I have, for the purpose 0 simplicity, shown.

my improved device. as ada ted to manual operation. It will be readily understood, however, that where other available ower may be had, such as, for instance, an e ectric motor or gas engine, such a means might well be. used in lieu of manual operation, and in view of this fact, it will be understood that all'reference to the crank 20 and manual operation is to beconstrued in an illustrative.

rather than a limiting sense.

From the aboveit will be seen that I have provided a new, novel, simple and efficient type of ap aratus which is particularly well suited to t e carrying out of the work intended in the field and at remote points where more complicated machinery is not available.

In connection with the description and illustrations of my invention, I desire to have it understood that these are for the purpose of facilitating an understanding'thereof; and that it is contemplated that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described'my invention, what I claim and desire, to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a pipe-turning device, the combination of 'a pair of ad ustablyns aced rollers upon whic apipe is adapted to e su ported and rotated, a driving meansladapt to rotate said rollers, and means ssociated with said driving means adapted 'to render the driving means adjustable so that said rollers may be driven thereby when adjusted to their difierent relative spacings.

2. In a pipe-turnin evice, the combina- Ipair of adjustabli s aced rollers upon whic a pipe is adapte to supported and rotated, a sprocket connected to each roller of said pair of rollers, a third s rocket adapted to be rotated, a sprocket chain connecting each of said sprockets and adapted to rotate said spaced rollers when said third sprocket is rotated, and means adapted to co-operate with said chain to render 1t operative to drive said rollers in all of their positions of spacing.

.3. In a pi e-turning device, the combination of a pair of spaced rails, an upwardly extendin end frame member secured to one end of said rails and having a pair ofspaced rollers adapted to support one end of a pipe and rotate it, an adjustable dolly having a similar pair of spaced rollers adapted to move along said rails and support the other end of the pipe as it is'rotated means for adjustin the spacing of said rollers whereby pipes o difierent diameters may be supported thereerating with said driving means for rendering it operative to drive said rollers in all of their positions of difierent relative spacmg. a

4. In a manually operated ipe-turning device, the combination of a pair of adjustably ssaced rollers upon which apipe is adapte to be supported and rotated, a manually-operated dnving means adapted to row tate said rollers, and means associated with sald driving means adapted to render the driving means adjustable so that said rollers mtg be driven thereby when adjusted to their di erent relative spac' 15 E JAN SEN. 

